Don’t Try This Anywhere!

jimmyjohnson — Tue, 21 May 2013 13:16:25 +0000

I wanted to make up for being gone several days in succession by showing you something really unusual. This Sunday comic strip from 1986, barely one year into the run of A&J, has not appeared in any medium since it was published in newspapers over 25 years ago. I hope it illustrates that the artwork and the joke writing both have progressed. It turns out to be one of those mornings, however, when whatever happens here doesn’t seem that important. When I turned on the television yesterday afternoon, after reading initial reports on the Internet, the first footage was from a horse farm. As bad as that appeared, I hoped maybe the Oklahoma tornado had not hit a densely populated area after all. Then, I saw the helicopter shots of entire streets where the only things visible from the air were concrete slabs and grass, as if nothing had existed there for years, and my heart sank. I watched until the same footage had looped countless times and the commentary was becoming innane, then I went outside. The birds were singing; the sky was blue and the trees green; the air was soft, and the wind was calm.

Screen Savor

jimmyjohnson — Wed, 15 May 2013 13:28:46 +0000

I know I’ve been a little heavy here lately on spring and outdoors and gardening, but it’s been that kind of year for me. I’m growing my tomatoes this season from seeds saved from last year’s crop, the first time I’ve tried this. It’s all gone well enough; in fact, it’s been easy so far. Now, however, I have 90 tomato seedlings that soon will be in need of a permanent situation. My gardening staff is at the point of mutiny. And I haven’t yet mentioned the herbs, also grown from seeds. There are almost 90 more pots of oregano, basil and thyme, 90 holes to be dug for 90 tender little plants that will need protection and sustenance. Why didn’t I enjoy this stuff more when I was young and strong!?

Chaise Arlo

jimmyjohnson — Tue, 14 May 2013 13:44:11 +0000

I don’t have enough time to do this subject justice, but I’m delighted to hear that, upon reflection, the publishers of The New Orleans Times-Picayune newspaper have decided to return to publishing a daily printed edition after less than a year of publishing three times a week. I want to thank Sandcastler for bringing this to our attention yesterday, and you can read all about it here. I suppose thanks are in order to the newspaper in Baton Rouge, The Advocate, for rushing into the breach with its own New Orleans edition, snarfing up all that loose change that The Times-Pic owners had decided wasn’t worth bending over to pick up. I’m here to praise the publishers in New Orleans, not bury them, but I did think I was going to have to go to my opthalmologist to stop my eyes from rolling when I read a quote from a corporate spokesman: “We are excited about this opportunity to extend our daily reach in print.”

Weather I’m Weak…

jimmyjohnson — Mon, 13 May 2013 13:29:26 +0000

I hope you had a happy Mother’s Day. I celebrated by staying as far away from restaurants as I could. Taking your mother out to eat on Mother’s Day has always been a thoughtful option, but when I was a boy it wasn’t the de rigueur tradition it is today. Maybe because there weren’t nearly so many restaurants in those days or maybe because we didn’t know what de rigueur meant, but a typical Mother’s Day meal at my parents’ house meant our usual Sunday feast: fried chicken, peas, mashed potatoes and other assorted sides, all expertly and uncomplainingly prepared by my sainted mother. Oh, she received gifts from my father and her two sons, but unchaining her from the stove simply wasn’t considered an option, not even by her. I suppose all change isn’t bad. However, I can’t help but think of all those mothers waiting on all those tables in all those restaurants. I hope you tipped well.

Nor His Assets

jimmyjohnson — Thu, 09 May 2013 13:36:19 +0000

Here is the next installment of yesterday’s classic A&J cartoon from 2007. With a little help from the parents, I sent four baby bluebirds out into the world this week. It’s been a cool and wet spring around here, but it didn’t slow down the bluebirds. One of the fledglings almost didn’t make it. A blue jay happened along just as the little fellow emerged from the family bird house and fluttered into the nearby pecan tree. The jay fell on him viciously, before the parents could even react, and had him on the ground. The jaybird obviously thought there are enough bluebirds in this world. I was watching from the kitchen, and I hit the back door running, but the parents were already on the case by then. They ran the jay off, although he was very reluctant to retreat. The little bird sat in the grass, stunned. I walked toward him (and was dive-bombed for my efforts by the mother and father), but he managed to get airborne as I approached and made it back into the tree. I know. I shouldn’t have tried to intervene, but dozens of people will run to the aid of a beached whale, and everyone thinks it’s great. I believe all the little birds are doing well, now. I see the family flitting about and hear them calling to each other. Now that’s twittering.